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A new year brings new movies and 2016 has some highly-anticipated films I'm hanging out for.

There's a slew of superheroes, spaceships, Oscar bait, animation sensations and a welcome return of a certain wizarding world.

Here are my top 10 most anticipated films of 2016 in order of release.

1. Spotlight: January 28

In the tradition of All the President's Men comes the critically-acclaimed journo movie Spotlight from writer/director Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent). The Boston Globe's 'Spotlight' investigation team is a cracker ensemble cast including Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber and Michael Keaton - on something of a career renaissance after Birdman - who uncover the Catholic Church's child abuse scandal.

Michael Fassbender just keeps delivering great performances in juicy roles, and along with Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen and Jeff Daniels it should be cracking Oscar-bait.

3. Deadpool: Feb 11

Marvel keep making hits out of lesser-known characters, like Ant-Man, and this R-rated actioner is one the fans have been praying for.

The merc-with-a-mouth was cruelly mistreated and sewn shut in Wolverine: Origins, and after being in development hell since 2000 thank god Ryan Reynolds and visual effects specialist (and now director) Tim Miller persevered to do Deadpool justice.

I always look forward to whatever the Coen brothers deliver - who wasn't engrossed in season two of Fargo? - and this looks like classic screwball Coen in the vein of O Brother, Where Art Thou? With O Brother's George Clooney on board, and Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Josh Brolin, Jonah Hill, Ralph Fiennes and Tilda Swinton this should be a golden age Hollywood riot.

5. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: March 24

While some might experience comic-book-movie fatigue in 2016 (there's Captain America: Civil War, Suicide Squad, X-Men: Apocalypse just to name a few) I can't wait for two of the biggest comic superheroes to slug it out. DC Comics is finally setting up their much darker cinematic universe with this blockbuster brawl from Man of Steel director Zac Snyder (300, Watchmen). While it may be a case of putting all their eggs in one basket - Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash all make their debut here - the second trailer looks like Snyder's got the capes under control.

6. Everybody Wants Some!!: April 14

Dazed and Confused was writer/director Richard Linklater's affectionate tribute (with a killer soundtrack) to high school in the 70s, and this time it's the 80s turn.

Named after a Van Halen song, Everybody Wants Some!! follows a group of college baseball players enjoying their newfound freedom.

Linklater's unofficial sequel to his 12-year magnum opus Boyhood looks like a raucous and funny coming-of-age tale that should have an equally epic mixtape.

7. Finding Dory: June 23

Any Pixar movie is a must-see for me, especially after last year's brilliant Inside Out. I just hope the return of Nemo and co is more Toy Story 2 than Cars 2. With original director Andrew Stanton (Wall-E) on board and a story focused on everyone's favourite forgetful fish this should have Pixar swimming in plenty of cash.

Ellen DeGeneres, who returns as Dory, is joined by the vocal talents of Albert Brooks, Idris Elba, Ed O'Neill and Ty Burrell.

8. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: November 17

J.K. Rowling makes her screenwriting debut with her adaptation of her 2001 book, reteaming with someone who knows the wizarding world well, director of the last four Harry Potter films David Yates.

Not a prequel but set in the same universe, albeit 70 years earlier, it's the first in a planned series. Oscar-winner and man-of-the-moment Eddie Redmayne beat out X-man Nicholas Hoult and former Dr Who Matt Smith for the role of Newt Scamander, future author of the Beasts handbook.

9. Assassin's Creed: December TBC

There's been a ton of video game to big-screen failures, but can one of the biggest and storied franchises break the streak? Since 2007 there have been nine main games covering major turning points in our civilisation. Of all people Shakespeare nut Michael Fassbender stars and produces this so you've got to have some hope, along with a hit-list cast including Jeremy Irons, Marion Cotillard and Brendan Gleeson.

10. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story: December TBC

With Star Wars Episode VII awakening a new legion of fans, there's a hunger for more space opera and at the end of this year we get the first of the Star Wars Anthology series - Rogue One. Set between episode III and IV, director Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) brings you the adventures of a group of rebel fighters out to steal the plans for the Death Star. Felicity Jones looks set to continue The Force Awakens tradition of strong female leads and I hope Mads Mikkelsen is playing some kick ass bad guy.